Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

Upon the Ancestral Master's statue, the spiritual light flickered.

Suddenly, a figure emerged, reaching toward Shen Yi's head, but halfway through, the hand withdrew, followed by a helpless chuckle, "You've already grown so tall."

The face belonged to the elderly man sitting upright in the Law Storage Pavilion.

"Really planning to leave? Don't want your master anymore, nor the He Dao Bao Di?"

The old man was clearly smiling, but a hint of sorrow inexplicably seeped through.

Shen Yi felt compelled to open his mouth again, responding with a smile, "Let the other brothers have the He Dao Bao Di. Xuan Qing will find another path. Master will always be master, and when Xuan Qing ascends to the Celestial Court, I will still invite you to enjoy the blessings."

"..."

After a long silence, the old man looked up and said, "I don't think you are someone easily trapped by emotions."

"I'm not," Shen Yi shook his head, speaking calmly, "But no one can disrespect Xuan Qing without consequence. If he won't give it, I'll take it myself. I can always get it. You should know, Master, Xuan Qing has never lost before."

"Is face more important to you than your master?" the old man swallowed, slowly turning away.

"If someone were to insult you, Xuan Qing would do the same, even if it meant breaking through the gates of heaven. Perhaps face sounds frivolous, but let's call it the Dao heart, and the Dao heart cannot be broken."

Shen Yi took a couple of steps back, lifted the hem of his robe, and then knelt down unhurriedly, "Once away from Hongze, Xuan Qing will still be a chosen one. You must wait for me to return, to witness them bow in submission with your own eyes."

"Are you fully prepared?" the old man sighed, his voice growing hoarse.

"All set," Shen Yi's lips curled into a confident smile.

"Then go," The old man turned around again, his face calming considerably, "This time, I will not intervene. Whatever happens to you, whether you live or die, or become an immortal ancestor, it will have nothing to do with Nanyang. I am the Sect Master and cannot treat the lives in this sacred land as a joke for your sake alone."

After that, he nodded, "Leave."

In an instant, Shen Yi's perspective changed abruptly, as if he had suddenly shifted from being Xuan Qing to the old man.

Quietly watching the proud young man rise from the ground, the other left behind a message, "You must pretend to know nothing... Don't look, don't listen, just wait for my return, as you are the master, you should have some faith in me, after all, I've really never lost."

Having spoken, Xuan Qing turned and walked out of the Ancestral Master Hall, his figure swiftly disappearing into the night.

...

Nanyang Sect, Ancestral Master Hall.

"Big trouble!" Li Qingfeng could have slapped himself; he realized that for some reason, this seemed to be the only thing he ever said anymore.

"..." Xuan Qing silently turned to look back, setting down the broom in his hand.

Outside the Ancestral Master Hall, many Nanyang stewards had returned, standing neatly outside with faces filled with worry.

"Yun Hai Zhai, Xuan Xiao Ge sent a request for help through a Jade Slip. They are surrounded by Dragon Palace forces. Xuan Yue City has already rushed to their aid, and the Yan Family has received the message and sent their clan members too. The only response awaited now is from Nanyang Sect."

Li Qingfeng's hands held the Jade Slip, trembling uncontrollably.

His greatest hope was for no mishaps to occur before the meeting of the seven sons.

Yet, the news he had been receiving was more alarming than the last.

"They say the ones leading the troops are the Fifth Prince and Little Fourth Master from the Dragon Palace, with three thousand elite troops, comparable to eight great generals from White Jade Capital."

Li Qingfeng had no concept of the ranks mentioned, but he knew that even the mightiest Nanyang Sect stewards nearly fainted upon hearing this news.

Such a troop was nearly equivalent to most of the Pure Moon Sect's power, excluding only the Sect Master.

Not to mention him, Li Qingfeng, even if Sect Master Shen personally intervened, it was doubtful that there would be any effect.

"Surrounded?"

Xuan Qing's expression just became a bit more solemn, showing no sign of panic.

After pondering briefly, he looked up and asked, "Did Ke Shiliang say why?"

Ke Shiliang, that was the name of the Fifth Prince.

"Said something... about facing us directly... All cultivators from Nanyang and Yan Family's Late Stage of Returning Void must show up..." Li Qingfeng hesitantly replied, unfamiliar with the situation in Nan Hong.

"Huh," Xuan Qing sighed, slowly clenching his fist.

Surrounding, confronting.

These two actions implied that the other party was not seeking revenge, but rather coming to reason.

This was instead more troublesome.

What had Nanyang Sect done that was so unjustifiable?

Thinking this, Xuan Qing remembered the Dragon Palace broadsword that Sect Master Shen had brought out last time.

He turned his head toward the direction of Yucang Pavilion.

Xuan Qing was clearer than anyone else about what was happening there. Sect Master Shen definitely couldn't come out for the moment.

And the situation had arisen too abruptly.

Even if he was willing to seek aid from past acquaintances for Nanyang's sake, there just wasn't enough time.

"Everyone stay within the sect, don't leave, and wait for my message," he said.

Xuan Qing took out his Dao Plate, dashing out of Nanyang Treasure Land.

Under the watchful eyes of all, he headed towards the Pure Moon Sect.

This was his first departure from Nanyang Sect since returning home, aside from the last time he knocked on the gates.

Xuan Qing swiftly stepped onto the Qingyue Bas-relief and, under the stupefied gaze of many Pure Moon Sect disciples, quickly descended into the Ancestral Master Hall of the Pure Moon Sect.

Then he strode in and stood before the Ancestral Master's statue.

"..."

Compared to the casual and domineering demeanor when he had previously knocked on the doors,

Xuan Qing took a deep breath, his knees trembling slightly as if struggling, then resolutely closed his eyes.

He took a step forward: "Xuan Qing pays respects to Uncle Master."

Just then, from within the statue, a Spiritual Light emerged, supporting Xuan Qing's body that was about to kneel. A gentle voice sounded, "I really don't want to accept your kneeling... But then again, you've certainly changed quite a lot."